5 Players the U.S. Could Add to Invigorate Their World Cup Campaign

Wednesday was a bad night for the United States men's national team. A 4-2 loss to Belgium exposed some of the weaknesses in coach Jurgen Klinsmann's side, and with World Cup qualification resuming next week, the Americans have plenty of work to do.

It's too late to call up new players to Klinsmann's squad, but what if he could?

Here are five guys—well, four plus one who's (sort of) already in the squad—who could invigorate the Americans' World Cup campaign.

Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan is the best player in U.S. national team history. He holds team records for goals (49), assists (48) and starts (130), and at age 31 he still has plenty left in the tank after taking his much-publicized break from international soccer (stats via USSoccer.com).

Donovan recently announced his intention to rejoin the team but was left off Jurgen Klinsmann's current team for two friendlies and three World Cup qualifiers. That was a mistake.

It's true that Donovan stayed away from the team for too long, but leaving him off the squad is a dangerous gamble. Donovan can provide goals, assists, leadership and experience—all of which will be needed in qualifying.

Carlos Bocanegra

Carlos Bocanegra, 34-year-old defender and veteran of two World Cups, served as team captain until recently. Lately, though, he can't get into Klinsmann's team.

Klinsmann told reporters on a conference call this month that Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron and Clarence Goodson are all ahead of Bocanegra in the defensive hierarchy (via MLSSoccer.com). The reasoning behind Klinsmann's decision was Bocanegra's unsettled club situation and lack of playing time with Racing Santander in the Spanish second division.

But as the U.S. defense's disorganized, sloppy performance in the loss to Belgium on Wednesday showed, Bocanegra's experience and leadership qualities could be valuable to the team.

At 34, Bocanegra is on his way out of the national team. But bringing him back could anchor the defense.

Steve Cherundolo

Right-back Steve Cherundolo, a veteran of three World Cups, was omitted from the latest U.S. roster by mutual consent as he continues his rehabilitation following a knee injury that kept him out of action with Hannover 96 for much of the spring, according to Pro Soccer Talk.

With Timothy Chandler also injured, the right side of the U.S. defense was left bare. Geoff Cameron played there Wednesday against Belgium, and the defense as a whole performed poorly.

Cherundolo, 34, recently set a Hannover record for most appearances in the Bundesliga and signed a new one-year extension. He is far from finished, and his return to the national team, whenever it happens, will be good news for the U.S.

Chris Wondolowski

Chris Wondolowski, a 30-year-old striker for the San Jose Earthquakes, set the Major League Soccer record for goals in a season with 27 last year. In the process, he earned MLS MVP honors.

Wondo's performances at the international level have not impressed. In nine appearances with the U.S. national team, he is still yet to score his first international goal.

In fairness, though, Jozy Altidore has also failed to replicate his club form for the U.S. Even considering his poor record at the international level, Wondolowski's work rate and club form could be worth another look for the U.S.

And speaking of Jozy…

AZ Alkmaar's Version of Jozy Altidore

Jozy Altidore last scored a goal for the United States national team in November 2011—and that was a penalty—against Slovenia.

His last goal from open play came against Guadeloupe in June of the same year—that's nearly two years ago.

By stark contrast, Altidore bagged 23 goals in 33 league matches this past season with AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie. That total included hat-tricks against Utrecht, Vitesse and Roda. He also scored the winner in the Dutch Cup final.

If that player showed up for the U.S., Jurgen Klinsmann would have a very different team. Altidore had a half-chance early against Belgium, bringing down a ball in the box before failing to release a shot.

Had he scored there, the U.S. would have been ahead 1-0, the defense might have settled in and the match might have played out differently. It didn't, though, and we keep wondering why Jozy can't replicate his club form at the international level.

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